Bubbler head



3 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIIIIIllIlIIn BUBBLER HED Filed Nov. l2, 1919 P. MUELLER ET Al.

P. MUELLER ET AL P. MUELLER ET AL BUBBLER HEAD Filedl Nov. 12, 1919 s sheets-sheet 3 wllllll Gnou:

5 appearance.

Patented Oct. 21, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP MUELLER AND ANTON C. SCHUERMANN, GF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO ADOLPII MUELLER, TRUSTEE, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

BUBBLER HEAD.

Application filed November 12, 1919. Serial No. 337,494.

To all whom t may cof/wem:

Be it known that we, PHILIP MUELLER and ANTON C. SGHUERMANN, citizens of the United States, residing at Decatur, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bubbler Heads, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sanitary drinking fountains and has as one of its objects to provide a nozzle or bubbler' head from the drinking orifice of which the discharge of water assumes a heaped-up form so that the water issues from the drinking orilice with a steady flow, without assuming the nature or force of a jet,mand without vio lence and, therefore, anyone may readily put his mouth to the bubbler head for the purpose of drinking without being discomforted or annoyed either by the water being ejected into his mouth in the form of a jet, or having the water splashed about his face. Our improved bubbler head or nozzle is so constructed that it gives a neat and pleasing The circulation of the water within the bubbler head is such that the incoming water will, at all times, force out the water previously delivered to the bubbler head, and thus stagnation of water Within the head is guarded against.

Further objects of our invention are to provide a construction wherein all metallic parts or fittings are hidden from view so as to give a neat appearance to the drinking fountain; to provide means for securing the bubbler head to the supply pipe so as to prevent any malicious persons from surreptitiously removing the head or waste strainer from the fountain; and to provide for an assembly of parts which will, at all times, be kept clean and in a perfectly sanitary condition by the flow of water and which may be readily assembled or disassembled.

The above and other objects of our invention may be attained in the construction described in detail in the following specifi-cation and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in said drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through so much of the drinking fountain equipped with our improvements as to illustrate our invention, A

Fi ure 2 is a sectional view through the nozz e or porcelain part of the bubbler head,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the bubbler head shown in Fig. 2,

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the waste pipe connection,

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the waste strainer,

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the waste strainer shown in Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of a plate to which the porcelain portion of the bub bler head is secured,

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a baflie cap for preventing the water from being ejected from the nozzle in the form of a spray or Jets i' i Figure 9 is an elevational view of the battle Cal?,

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the lower edge of the bubbler head to show the undercutl groove for engaging the lugs 42 on the plate 35.

Y Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent like parts in the several views, 10 designates a pedestal which, as is usual, houses the supply and waste pipes and accessories thereto, the upper portion only of the pedestal being shown, as it forms no part of the present invention. 11 designates the bowl portion of the drinking fountain; 12 a waste pipe, and 13 the supply pipe; in the present instance. the supply pipe being shown as passing through the waste pipe, although, if desired, this construction may be varied.

The bubbler head or nozzle is carried upon anipple 14, comprising a pipe-like section having at its lower end an enlarged inter nally threaded bore adapted to receive, in threaded engagement, the upper end of the supply pipe 13. The upper end of the nipple 14l terminates in a cylindrical portion 15 of reduced diameter, and this portion 15 is threaded for a portion of its length so as to receive a baffle cap 16, which is described hereinafter more in detail.

The numeral 17 designates a waste connection having a cylindrical pipe portion of less diameter than the internal diameter of the waste pipe 12, so as to telescope thereinto and between the connection 17 and waste pipe 12 is a combined packing and coupling nut 18, the coupling nut having an annular recess 19 in that portion which surrounds the pipe section of the connection 17, which recess receives a packing 2O of any suitable constructfipn. The coupling nut '71'8 has a flange 21l provided. with threaded openings which receive set screws 22, the set screws being. tifbrhtenedY downwardly onto a plate 23 resting upon lugs V24; integral with the pedestal 10.

The manner of coupling the waste pipe to the connection 17 torrns no part of the present invention. The upper end o't the connection 17 has a pair of diametrically disposed bosses 25 each of which has a threaded recess-26 which receives the screws l27 for securing the .connection 117 and a waste strainer 28 in aosition. 4

TheA waste strainer 28 has al circular disk portion 29 and a centrally disposed sleeve 30. The disk-like portion of the strainer has its under .peripheral edge beveled, as at 31,- so as to snugly sea-t against the upper correspondingly beveled edge about the opening 32 through the basin 11. The k-lfange portion 29' about the sleeve 30 is incli'ined downwardly and centrally and this downwardly and centrally inclined portion is provided with a plurality of elongated radial openi'i'igs 33, these openings 'being of sufficient Ksize to permit the waste water to refdily flow therethrough but being' Sulliciently smallto prevent rela-tively large par lticle's of dirt or the like frein passing into the waste pipe. l

'The arrangement of plate with the ydownwardly and centrally inclined portion having the elongated radial'openi-ngs is de- 'siii able for `the reason that, by' inclining the draining" center of the plate downwardly, the w ter which vfalls rorn the bubbler head to this strainer 28 will lbe completely drained away Afor the reason that the downward inclination of the center of lthe plate and .thwe' di inage slotsI 33 will lead the water y tower l the center by gravity, and any vtendency/ oi the -n'iasteY water to span the slots and, by reason of sliinensicn, adhere in the forni ola. web to the walls of the slots is overcoine', this being a dil'liculty which has been experienced where the plate is flat with iaeial slots and the water has no tendency 4to rlow towardvthe center, it 'having` been found rthat with the flat slotted plate, a` iilin' Vof water will cling between the walls off` the ,slots and at lower temperatures, quickly congeal and stop the waste.

r'll'ie sleei're-fli'le portioni 30 of the strainer receives the nipple 14 and it vhas a plurality oit' internal lugs'` 3d which engage the nipple to prevent relative lateral rnovement lbev:tween the nipple and sleeve, and at the saine time 4heid rthe internal snrfacevoi" the sleeve 1n spaced relationto 5the nipple. By

providing the lugs 34, the area of the con- 'gta'cting's'iiraces 'between the nipple 14 and the' sleeve 30 'is' relatively srnall so that corl rosion therebetween will not be suflicient t0 cause the nipple to stick to the strainer and thus the strainer may be readily removed when desired, although the drinking fountain may have been in use for solne time. This would not be the case ilZ Athe internal wall or the sleeve vcontacted with the nipple tlnoughout the length of the sleeve.

The numeral 35 designates a plate to which the nozzle or porcelain portion 36 of the bubliler head is secured. The plate 35 has a centrally disposed opening 37 which closely receives the reduced portion .l5 oli the nipple 1l, so that the plate rests on the shoulder 38 of the nipple. A pair of lugs 39 depend Yliroln the pla-te 35 and stradd-le the body portion of the nipple 1l. T he lugs 39 engage in notches or recesses 40 in the upper end or the sleeve 30, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1, so as to prevent rotation of the plate There is sullicient clearance between the walls of the notches l0 and the lugs 39 to permit Vthe waste water to flow therebetween and through the annular passage between the ynipple 14 and the sleeve BO. Adjacent the outer periphery oiE the plate 35 is a depending` flange' 41 and extendirngr laterally from the plate is a. plurality ol integral lugs or` ears 42, four ol' such ears being provided in the linesent ilustance. The plate 35 has a through aperture 41-3 to permit drainage of the bubbler head and, preferably, this aperture `is open at all tiines so as to insure against stagnation of water in the lower part olE the head.

The plate 35 is secured against displacenient upon the nipple Ll 'by means of the baille cap 1G. In the present instance, this baille cap is somewhat cylindrical in shape and is closed at its upper end, and this closed upper end has a transverse notch or kenf 4l which is provided for the purpose of rcceiviln;` a yscrew driver or other tool to unscrew the cap 16 when it is desired to remover the bubbler head from position. The lower end of the cap 16 has an internally threaded opening; which receives, as clearly shown in Fig. l` the threaded end of the portion 15 ol the nipple 14. The side or cylindrical wall of the `baille cap has a phirarlity of openings or slots 4G through which the water disA charges laterally into the nozzle 36.

The nozzle 36 is, preferably, circular in cross section and intermer-liate the ends of the head -it is of restricted diameter. The wall of the nozzle is `gracefully curved inwardly at its upper end and terminates in a drinking' orifice 47 circular in cross section. The outer edge about `the opening or orifice 37 is beveled, as at 48. so as' Vto eliminate sharp edges' and assist the drinking bubble in Aassuming a `globular or spherical .form The open lower end ofthe nozzle flares outwardly. Spaced slightly from the open ond of the nozzle is an internal circumferential groove 49 and the rib 50 between the groove lll() lllli llll lil

49 and the end of the nozzle has vertical grooves 51 which are equal in number and spaced apart similarly to the lugs 42 of the plate 35, so as to receive the same. rlhe plate is moved inwardly of the nozzle 36 until the lugs 42 lie in the groove 49 whereupon the nozzle is given a partial rotation so that the lugs rest against the rib 50. The groove 49 is then filled with a suitable cementitious material.

The assembly of the parts will be readily understood. After setting up the pedestal 10, the waste pipe 12, the supply pipe 13 inclusive of the nipple 14, and adjusting the screws 22, the Waste connection 17, to which has been, previous-ly, attached the bowl 11 and the waste strainer 28, is inserted into place with the pipe-like portion thereof telescoping into the waste pipe 12. It will be observed that the bowl 11 is firmly clamped between the waste strainer 28 and the Waste connection 17, by means of the screws 27, a gasket 52 being interposed between the bowl 11 and the waste connection 17 for the purpose of making` a water-tight joint. The plate 35 with the nozzle 36 secured thereto is then positioned upon the nipple 14 with the e'dgeor shoulder about the opening 37 thereof engaging against the shoulder 38 of the nipple and the lugs 39 engaging in the notches 40 of the sleeve 30. The notches 40 in the sleeve 30, as will appear from the dotted lines in Figures 1 and 6 are of such length as to give a space or clearance 40 between the bottom of the plate and the top of the sleeve 30 in order that there may be clearance through the sleeve 30 and over the top thereof through the notches'40 for air, and no danger of choking the waste by trapping the air in the waste pipe can occur for it will be obvious that the air in the waste pipe can, with this construction, pass upwardly between the nipple 14 and the sleeve 30 and out over the top of the sleeve beneath the plate as the waste water liows from the bowl down the waste pipe. The

baliiecap 16 is then passed through the drinking orifice 47, the external diameter of the baffle cap 16 being sufciently small to permit of this operation, and then by inserting a tool, such as a screwdriver, through the drinking orifice and engaging the lower end of the tool in the kerf 44. the baffle cap 16 may be screwed, into place upon the threaded portion 15 of the nipple 14 and against the plate 35.

A Itwill be noted, from the foregoing description, that since the baille cap 16 is housedwithin the nozzle or head 36, and the nozzle 36 covers the plate 35, and this plate 35 overlies the strainer 28, all metallic parts of the fountain are substantially hidden from view and, therefore, the fountain has a neat and pleasing appearance. Furthermore, since the means for securing the head to the nipple, namely, the baHie cap 16, is housed within the nozzle 36, it is out of the way of ready access of anyone maliciously inclined; and since the plate overlies the strainer 28, the strainer cannot be surreptitiously removed.

As heretofore stated, the nozzle 36, at its central portion, is of reduced or restricted diameter, as at 53, and the chamber 54 be low this reduced portion flares downwardly and outwardly. The internal walls of the chamber 55 above the restricted portion 53 flare 'upwardly and outwardly, and then curve inwardly and slope upwardly until they terminate in the drinking orifice 47. With this construction, the water issues through the slots 46 of the baffle cap into the enlarged chamber 54 and due to the restricted portion 53 the water issues into the upper chamber 55 at increased velocity. The water upon reaching the upper chamber will spread outwardly until it meets the upwardly and inwardly inclined walls of this chamber which direct the water to flow towards the drinking orifice. Due to the inwardly inclined walls of the chamber 55, the water issues from the drinking orifice in cross currents and at an angle to the axis of the opening 47 so that the result is the drinking bubble assumes a globular or spherical form. The water issues from the drinking orifice without violence so that anyone may drink therefrom with ease and comfort.

It is, of course, apparent, that our invention is susceptible to the various changes and modifications which fall within the spirit of our invention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a drinking fountain, a bowl, a waste pipe, a strainer for said bowl, removable means for securing said strainer to the waste pipe, a supply pipe passing upwardly through said strainer, radially disposed circumferentially spaced elements between the strainer and said supply pipe to prevent relative lateral movement of said strainer, and a bubbler head mounted above and over said strainer to conceal the same and prevent access to the securing means therefor.

2. In a drinking fountain, a bowl, a waste pipe, a strainer for said bowl, removable means for securing said strainer to the waste pipe, a supply pipe passing upwardly through said` strainer, radially disposed circumferentially spaced elements on said strainer contacting with said supply pipe to reduce the area of contact of said strainer and pipe and their adhesion under corrosion, a bubbler head mounted above and over said strainer to conceal the same and prevent access to the securing means therefor, and means within the head for removably securing the head to the supply pipe.

3. In a vdrinking fountain, a waste pipe, a

supply pipe, a removable waste strainer for said waste pipe, a bubble-r head mounted upon the supply pipe above the strainer so as to conceal the latter and prevent its removal, and means between the strainer and head for preventing rotation ot the lat-ter. 4A. In a drinking fountain, a bowl having a waste opening, a waste pipe beneath said opening, a strainer over said opening, screws passing downwardly through said strainer threaded into the waste pipe, a supply pipe and ai head on said supply pipe above and over said strainer to conceal the same and prevent removal of said screws, said strainer having uni-form spaced lugs adapted to contact with vthe peripheral wall of said supply pipe for the purpose specified. 5. In a drinking' fountain, a bowl having `a waste opening, a Waste pipe beneath said opening, a. strainer over said opening, screws passing downwardly through said strainer and threaded into the waste pipe, a supply pipe passi-ng centrally through said strainer and having` its upper end threaded, said strainer being provided on its inner periphery with spaced lugs adapted to contact with the said supply pipe, a head on said supply pipe above and over said strainer to conceal the same and prevent removal Aof said screws and means within the head and threaded on the threaded end of said supply pipe for securing the head to the pipe.

6. In a drinking fountain, a waste pipe, a waste strainer for said waste pipe and having a sleeve, a supply pipe passing through said sleeve, a bubbler head secured to the upper end of the supply pipe and overlying the strainer, and interlocking projections between the sleeve and head for preventing rotation of the latter.

7. In a drinking tountain, a waste pipe, a waste strainer for said waste pipe and having-a sleeve, a supply pipe passing through said sleeve, a bu'bbler head secured to the upper end of the supply pipe and overlying the strainer and depending lugs on the head engaging in notches in the sleeve to prevent rotation of the head. i f

8. In a drinking fountain, a bowl having a waste opening, a waste pipe leading from said opening, a strainer over the opening and having va vertical sleeve, means for removably securing the strainer to the waste pipe, a supply pipe passing through the sleeve and radially disposed circumferentially spaced elements on said vertical sleeve for preventing` lateral movement of the strainer relative to the said supply pipe, a head mounted on the supply pipe and overlying the strainer and the strainer securing means, and a baflie cap within the head secured to the supply pipe for securing the head thereto. Y

9. In a drinking fountain, a bowl having a waste opening, a waste pipe leading from said opening, a strainer over the oeening,r and having a vertical sleeve, means or removably securing the strainer to the waste pipe, a supply pipe passing through the sleeve, a head mounted on the supply pipe and overlying the strainer and the strainer securing means, means between the sleeve and head for preventing rotation of the latter and a baille cap within the head sccured to the supply pipe for securing the head thereto.

10. In a drinking fountain, a bowl having a waste opening, a waste pipe leading from said opening, a strainer over the opening and having a vertical sleeve, means for removably securing the strainer to the vaste pipe, a supply pipe passing through the sleeve and spaced from the internal surface thereof, a plate mounted on the supply pipe and overlying the strainer, depending lugs on the plate engaging in notches in said sleeve, a nozzle covering and secured to said plate, and means within the nozzle for securing the plate to the supply pipe.

ll. In a drinking fountain, a waste pipe, astrainer for said waste pipe and having a sleeve, a supply pipe passing through the waste pipe and sleeve, lugs between the sleeve and supply pipe to preclude relative lateral movement of said strainer and su ply pipe, and a bubbler head secured to said supply pipe.

l2. In a drinking fountain, a supply pipe having an abutment and a threaded portion above said abutment, a plate having an opening for the reception of said supply pipe and seated on said abutment, n nozzle detachably secured to said plate and having a drinking orifice, and an unintcrru ted passage therethrough, and a baille cap ymving a closed upper wall, slots in its side wall and a threaded opening in its lower wall, said baille cap being of less diameter than said orifice so as to pass therethrough, and said threaded opening being adapted to receive the threaded portion of said supply pipe to secure the plate to the pipe.

13. In a drinking fountain, u waste pipe, a strainer for said waste pipe having an upwardly projecting centrally disposed Sleeve, a supply pipe passing through said waste pipe and said sleeve, a bubbler snpporting plate mounted on said supply pipe, lugs on said plate engaging notches in said sleeve, said lugs and notches being so disposed as to give clearance between said plate and sleeve.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hand.

PHILIP MUELLER. ANTON C. SCHUERMANNA 

